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Who were your ancestors? Where did they live? How did they earn their living? At what age did they marry, and how large were their families? Throughout the ages and across the world people have had a natural curiosity about their ancestors, but only recently have amateur historians begun to trace their forebears with such fervor and delight. Written by a leading authority in the field, The Oxford Guide to Family History is a practical introduction to finding out about your family. Much more than a guide to the mechanics of constructing a family tree, this helpful book suggests ways of broadening your own family research to look at what life was like for people of centuries past. Drawing on the oral tradition, financial records, gravestones, or census records, one may, for instance, learn how a family earned their living, what a person was like, or what religion they were. While many of the examples are based on British family histories, David Hey offers much practical advice on the basics of family research. He suggests, for example, that a family historian not start with some famous person who had the same surname back in the fifteenth century. The golden rule is to work backwards from the known to the unknown. Among basic sources for the beginner are municipal records, census records, and church registers. And Hey also points out that many surnames are intensely local in their distribution, and that as a result, tracing the geographical pattern of a surname is an important task, as it may lead towards the original home of the name. Offering practical advice such as how to get started, where to find records, and how to decipher early styles of handwriting, The Oxford Guide to Family History is essential to learning the most about your family history. Lavishly illustrated with pictures of family groups, houses, monuments, and archive records, here is an authoritative guide to this fascinating hobby.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`At a price of just under L20 I felt the whole book was remarkable value for its combination of social history, gracefully told, and lucid instruction. It would be an ideal wedding present for an intelligent couple who wish to understand their respective pasts, before going forward to their single future.' Catholic Herald

`marvellous book' Daily Mail

`richly illustrated book, a likely best-seller ... The book is a primer for the study of family history. David Hey of Sheffield is one of those academics to and a flair for regional adult education.' Tom Gardiner, Church Times

`This book is an invaluable how-to-do-it guide. But what the author also does is make more widely available to amateur genealogists the work of professional historians who have revolutionised the study of social history in the last 25 years.' Michael Hickling, Yorkshire Post

'Not only does it give up-to-date guidance on researching national and local registers, but it relates individual researches to recent developments in the social and economic history of the family. The practical guidance is well set out.' Times Literary Supplement

'The professor's book is full of similarly interesting facts and snippets about the origins of family names, movement and migration, as well as being a comprehensive guide to the basics of research.' Jane Tadman, Sheffield Telegraph

'excellent introduction to the world of human history ... this wide ranging work contains valuable information to help spur would-be family historians to set off on the ancestry trail' Hugh MacDougall, Yorkshire Evening Press

'absorbing volume ... I felt the whole book was remarkable value for its combination of social history, gracefully told, and lucid instruction.' Antonia Fraser, Catholic Herald

'David Hey offers an excellent introduction to the subject. Fully illustrated and with plenty of practical advice.' Maura Bennett, The Lady

'a thoughtful and handsomely-produced book ... The illustrations, many in colour, are striking and handsome. This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book, finely researched and well written. Oxford books maintain and enhance their reputation with its publication.' John Titford, Family Tree Magazine, August 1993

About the Author

About the Author:David Hey is Professor of Local and Family History at the University of Sheffield.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

David Hey has written a comprehensive view of genealogical research for individuals interested in tracing British roots. I have to confess to being a little deceived as I thought this book would be about researching family history in general and not only English, Scottish, and Welsh history. The bulk of the book centers around putting your forebears experiences in perspective through historical analysis of population trends and social life/everyday living thoroughout British history. The last third of the book discusses research techniques and the documentation peculiar to the British Isles. Despite the recent emphasis on internet genealogy, this book still offers and excellent reference for people interested in navigating and narrowing their genealogical research for this area.

I purchased this book and when it arrived it was in x-good condition.I am very happy with it and the service. It was sent to Australiaand I received it within 2 weeks. Thank you very much for your greatservice.